Ugo Rondinone A Shamanic Presence At New York’s Rockefeller Center

Ugo Rondinone’s 16-20 foot tall human shaped stone figures imbues New York City’s iconic Rockefeller Center with a shamanic presence. The colossal figures will be on the Plaza for two weeks, inviting viewers to touch and interact with the primitive and powerful sculptural tribe.

The Swiss born Rondinone (and New York City resident) has created mythical figures from massive bluestone slabs. Roughly cut blocks, replete with drill holes and splits from the quarry, have been stacked to create the monumental sculptures.  Larger figures were fabricated in Crodo, Italy at the quarry site, and those sculptures will be exhibited in Europe.

“Human Nature,” organized by the Public Art Fund and Tishman Speyer, is presented by Nespresso.   Nicholas Baume, Director and Chief Curator of the Public Art fund has said of the universal figures, “mythical in scale and imagery, visceral in character and impact, these works reconnects the contemporary world with our most ancient origins.”

Internationally renowned as an artist who explores different mediums and psychological expressions, Rondinone is widely represented in museum collections. Upcoming solo shows include Museum Leuven in Brussels and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Ugo Rondinone is represented by Eva Presenhuber Gallery of Zurich and New York’s Barbara Gladstone Gallery. Complementing the monumental Rockefeller Center installation, Barbara Gladstone presents “soul” on May 10.  The series of small scale bluestone figures will provide a more private  yet equally powerful experience. Ugo Rondinone exhibits with Sadie Coles in London.

Words: lka Scobie Photo: Luigi Cazzaniga

HUMAN NATURE   Ugo Rondinone at Rockefeller Center NYC 23 April –  7 June

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